If someone like me could enjoy speedrunning and do pretty well, I believe this game is suitable for both casual speedrunners and veterans alike. Sure it can be frustrating to die so many times, but there are zero consequences because you literally have endless lives to lose.

It’s often thrilling, and there are so many good ideas under the hood, that enduring some of the frustration still leaves you with a unique action game experience. Take it as a cautionary tale. This is what happens when a game is too excited about style, and prides it over gameplay.

System Shock in 1994 was an innovative masterpiece. Anyone coming to the game via this remaster in 2023 might wonder what all the fuss was about. While its themes of unrestrained AI and corporate espionage still resonate, this version doesn’t go quite far enough to make System Shock feel modern. We’ve come to take for granted just about everything the original invented. While we wait for a genuine reboot, System Shock is worth playing as a reminder of how important great ideas were, and still are, to the hobby we love.

Break Arts II is a dream come true for any fans who have big ideas and want to create their own robotic units, as the customization has incredible possibilities. My hopes for this game are that the online community will become more active, the developers consider adding custom keybinding in the options, and possibly updating the in-game models of the enemy units to have them appear as they were built instead of racing little diamonds.

Call of Duty: Ghosts Invasion DLC maintains that momentum by keeping the CoD online community happy with yet another drop of four entertaining maps and a challenging Extinction level. If you have already downloaded the previous two map packs, there is no reason why you shouldn’t take the plunge all over again.

If you already have the Season Pass, I would say The Forge is worth checking out. If you’re thinking of just shelling out five dollars for the game, I wouldn’t recommend it without getting the whole kit and caboodle: it’s just not enough content for what you get, although it is fun if you’re already a fan of the game. In that spirit, I’m giving it the same score that we gave the main game when it came out, because Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s The Forge isn’t going to change anyone’s mind. If, like me, you loved the gameplay and are willing to sit through a bit of sloppy writing to get to the fun within, it’s worth it. If you thought Shadow of the Tomb Raider wasn’t worth the entry ticket, I’d sit this one out. It’s all about perspective.

Dustborn tells a touching tale brimming with personality and political messages with each character offering a unique perspective that enriches the narrative. While these diverse viewpoints occasionally lead to inconsistencies in tone, the game succeeds in delivering a strong, but potentially divisive, story. The musical elements provide a refreshing twist to the gameplay, standing out against the uninspiring combat. Overall, Dustborn adds various elements to the interactive drama genre, and while not all are equally successful, the game offers a compelling experience that will resonate with those seeking an ambitious tale.

Overall, Pokken Tournament is an exciting and fast-paced fighting game that successfully blends the gameplay basics of Tekken with the Pokemon characters to create a completely unique formula. With intricate yet accessible mechanics, it’ll please both veterans and newcomers to the fighting game genre.

From the originality of the story, to the illustrative comic book panel scenes and exceptional graphics, Turn On is a fantastic casual platformer guaranteed to help pass a few hours of your day with a smile on your face.

Football Manager 26 excels in many areas but stumbles in others. Match presentation is the best it’s ever been, helping to strengthen your connection with players as a manager, while new tactical options, including refined player roles and formations in and out of possession, add greater depth on the pitch. The user interface, though improved for controller use, buries too many menus, and overall performance still needs work, leaving the experience feeling slightly unfinished. Despite these issues, FM 26 remains the best management sim available, and it’s easy to lose hours to its deep, endlessly rewarding gameplay loop.

It’s entirely addicting and filled with more content than you could ever hope to play, so much so that I didn’t even really touch on the improved matchmaking and multiplayer options, the course creator, societies, etc. That mountain of content is wrapped up in a game that is overall pretty good. Much like golf, things that go wrong will frustrate you beyond belief, but they’ll make you feel like a million bucks when they go right. At least if you throw your controller in frustration at a bad shot it’ll be cheaper to replace than dumping your bag of clubs into a lake.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is a weird but strangely addictive title that continues to surprise each time you dip in. The level of customisation helps create a truly unique experience, where the Miis, clothing, and more are shaped entirely by your choices, letting you fine-tune every detail to reflect your own quirky vision. This leads to an array of wacky stories and situations that keep you coming back for more. Although there’s a lack of traditional gameplay and not much to keep you playing for longer than short bursts, it’s a successful evolution of its predecessor and a relaxing, cosy experience that’s easy to return to.

Despite the simplistic part-time job mini games and the randomization of being able to upgrade tools, Trio of Towns hits all of the main points to have a successful daily game loop.

Aside from being an MMORPG and having the cooperative multiplayer element not always found in cozy life sims, Palia doesn’t really stray far from the formula. I can certainly understand gamers vibing with Palia’s gentle, appealing world. Thanks to playing with others, it can easily be a nice little alternate reality that’s almost entirely free of conflict and violence, and that sounds pretty inviting. Palia might not be incredibly original, but it’s definitely worth checking out for fans of the genre.

There are lots of ways in which Outcast: A New Beginning punches way, way up. The world is elaborate and thoroughly imagined. Characters are interesting. Some of the game’s mechanics and elements will seem familiar, but in this case Outcast: A New Beginning can claim it was there first. Unrewarding combat and some bland mission design aside, Outcast: A New Beginning reminds me of many AA games that I loved despite their flaws.

Arizona Sunshine 2 improves on every aspect of the original to make this one of the best zombie games on the PSVR 2. The weapons have never felt better and make mowing down enemies a thrill. Although the horde mode is a little basic and you’ll encounter the odd glitch, the fact you can play everything with a friend improves the entire experience. With its dark humor and well-designed world, you’ll have a sadistic time annihilating foes on your trek through a post-apocalyptic world.

In most ways, Gal Guardians Demon Purge sticks very close to the retro-Castlevania template. The best parts of the game are those ideas and mechanics which add something new, like the swappable sisters with unique strengths. For those gamers tired of uber-challenging action platformers, Gal Guardians Demon Purge’s streamlined gameplay and accessible difficulty might be a welcome change, if not a particularly revelatory experience.

Vampire: The Masquerade-Justice is a stealth-action RPG that’s a convincing fit for VR. The core gameplay is pretty standard, and character models are a bit disappointing, but its implementation in VR, coupled with excellent environmental design and lighting, help sell the experience. New Meta Quest 3 or PS VR2 owners with a taste for virtual blood will enjoy spending time in Venice’s virtual world of shadows.

Overall, Blair Witch VR is a solid horror experience with some super scares. The excellent audio and your dog, Bullet, elevate what would be a pretty standard experience. Dog lovers take note. Bullet is a great companion, and the game has some deft touches where you can reach out and pet him or scratch his ears. A little thing but one that really connects you to the world.

Titles like Transport Fever 2 are not made for the general gamer. Tutorial aside, it’s a game for lovers of detail, challenge, and lots of moving parts. For those folks, Transport Fever 2 delivers on consoles the same experience as on PC. It’s a daunting but rewarding good time.

Cat Quest 3’s style is its calling card, but the surprise comes from its addictive and unexpectedly deep gameplay systems and mechanics. It’s a full-fledged ARPG with cat and pirate trappings. Fans of felines and suckers for swashbucklers of any age should enjoy the adventure. Cat Quest 3 releases on August 8–International Cat Day.

Uniquely hand-drawn and detailed, Inked is a love story set in a beautiful world that feels minimalistic and simple, yet full of life and stories to tell. A comforting tale that touches on deeper life meanings while introducing creative puzzles to solve, this short and sweet game demands just the right amount of attention from the player. Unpredictable movements and controls make the experience feel less smooth, but the linear paths make it easy to know where our hero needs to go. It is a rewarding couple of hours well spent for those looking for a soothing and wholesome adventure.

Far Cry Primal takes players to an era rarely visited in modern gaming and does so convincingly. Any fan of the series would love it and many would likely argue it’s the best we’ve seen from Far Cry thus far.

Demagog Studio is on to something with Golf Club: Wasteland, and it’s absolutely something they should be proud of. This is a developer I’ll now be watching with a close eye, as I can’t wait to see what they come up with next. Whatever this small Serbian team has in the pot, rest assured I’ll be first in line. Check out Golf Club: Wasteland and the original soundtrack “Radio Nostalgia from Mars.” And bring some tissues.

Overall, Once Human’s blend of action, survival/crafting, and MMORPG-like mission design kept me entertained and happily occupied. While some of the more challenging enemies are designed around multiplayer teamwork, the majority of the game’s content is solo player-friendly. Once Human can be approached and enjoyed in lots of ways. It needs some further refinement, but Once Human’s hybrid genre approach pays off.

I had fun playing Redfall, both solo and with friends. There’s a definite Salem’s Lot vibe to a New England town oppressed by a vampire apocalypse. All the characters are interesting to play and the monsters are varied. Still, Redfall does not revolutionize the open-world shooter, or even really evolve Arkane Austin’s by-now familiar formula. Redfall feels like the product of a reliable game plan that’s due for an update.

SD Gundam Battle Alliance is not perfect, but there’s no denying the enjoyment one can get from it. Whether you enjoy playing solo or joining online with friends, there’s something suitable for everyone. Sure, it’s more fun if you know some main characters and villains, but it’s still entertaining if you’re new to the franchise. For myself, it was a pleasure to experience the modern nostalgia, and I’m positive other Gundam fans will feel the same.

Hot Wheels Unleashed is a fast-paced racer that captures the frantic action of the miniature, diecast toys. The momentum-based gameplay helps to create intense races where anyone can win or lose. Even though the tracks are exciting and varied, the lack of environments is disappointing. Vehicles look incredible, making you want to collect each of them, however, the grindy blind box system may halt your progress. Overall, this is a solid racer that will knock you over with a nitro-boost of nostalgia.

Had the developers simply slapped the Lovecraft label on the game and not explored the rich mythos inherent in the name, this could have been a disaster of a game, but instead – and despite of its faults – Lovecraft’s Untold Stories is a rich and intoxicating set of tales weaved together, balancing mystery, combat, and madness together in an engrossing experience. Combat isn’t particularly up to snuff with today’s standards but it could be forgiven considering its aesthetic and gameplay are reminiscent of the SNES, with which the controls fit in perfectly.

Would I recommend Little Dragons Café for a child? Absolutely. Would I recommend you buy Little Dragons Café for a child at its current price point? Absolutely not. There is plenty of content and it’s a decent game, but there are a lot of other games that are on-par with this one that are selling for less than half the price. Until the price comes down, I can’t in good conscience recommend that you buy it, and that’s a shame.

Layers of Fear 2 is a surreal journey packed with fear and existential dread. Everything from the environment to the music, Layers of Fear 2 is an experience that is frightful, thought-provoking, and disorienting (in a good way). Granted, it doesn’t always hit every note; however, the decision to port it over to the Nintendo Switch is certainly a most welcome one.

The art style is vivid and manages to not look realistic but still be immersive, and the simple act of being Sakuna and exploring the visuals around me is enough to want to keep playing. In some ways, the game reminds me of Animal Crossing games, where the loop slows me down and keeps me engaged in the little wonders of life around me.

Maybe it isn’t fair to compare Cities: Skylines II to its predecessor, which has had years of updates and addons. Setting aside some technical issues, Cities: Skylines II has some interesting new systems, some welcome mechanical improvements, and lots of potential. But it’s missing some content that long time players have probably come to expect, and it’s in need of optimization, bug fixes, and the sense of life and fun that characterized the first game.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an impressive solo achievement. Its disregard for traditional goals, victory conditions or game-limiting objectives makes Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles stand out in a — pun intended — sea of builders. As a set of automated construction mechanics, the Freebuild Mode feels great. Sometimes the campaign scenarios sit uncomfortably in the middle, tasking players to discover how things work but not always giving them a clear, actionable goal. Fans of games like Townscapers will enjoy Bulwark very much, and players of more traditional RTS games will appreciate its fresh approach to the genre.

For a free-to-play game, Arknights: Endfield offers a wealth of well-made content. The factory building, tower defense mechanics, exploration, and team-based combat elements offer engaging hours of play, certainly worth the price of admission for fans of those genres. Mid to late game, Arknight: Endfield loses a bit of luster, devolving into more tedious gacha mechanics and not evolving its systems enough to keep the fun going for more casual players.

Vertigo 2 is packed with great ideas. Being built specifically for VR, there is a nice layer of tactility with the inventory and reload systems. There are plenty of wonderful set pieces that make a bunch of memorable moments throughout the well-paced campaign. Although the visuals are dated and bugs will crop up from time to time, it’s still a wonderful, ambitious game.

This is the best version available of a great game, so if you haven’t played it, and want the most up-to-date/complete version, this is the one for you.

By and large, EA Tiburon have managed to release a golf experience that is a blast to play and features some brilliant looking courses. Granted, the limited PGA roster, only 13-courses out of the box, and some technical hiccups dampen the experience.

Anyone who enjoyed Dead Island 2 will probably enjoy Haus as well. It has the same engaging humor and social satire, the same gory action, and even more visually impressive levels. What it doesn’t have are a lot of new ideas. It’s a pretty short romp, too. Haus is definitely, for better or worse, more of the same. I’m ok with that.

I will warn you though; if you don’t have patience this game may challenge your gaming prowess.

If you only own a console, however, and you want to experience this great series for the first time, then The Sims 4 certainly will give you lots of enjoyment, despite the annoying aspects.

Never before has a shooter been taken a direction that puts just as much emphasis on the environment as the people that are in it. Each match feels like a fresh new experience, and it’s all done with a sort of “makes too much sense” grace that I’m legitimately surprised we haven’t seen done before.

Project Warlock is the little obliterating shooter that could. Someone so inspired by classic games took their love of the genre and created a fantastic monument to the source material while still offering its own identity. Levels are designed intelligently, enemies are varied and brutal, and the plethora of weapons and spells at your disposal is impressive for what the game is. Other than the unfortunately clunky weapon wheel when in the thick of combat and a few minor omissions I would have liked to see added, Project Warlock is one hell of a shooter and a great way to shut off your brain and just have some classic fun. It’s fast-paced, intense, and keeps you on your toes. Here’s hoping Jakub Cislo has plans for a sequel.

All in all, No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES is a fun return to the world of AI: The Somnium Files. I wish it were longer and had a little more substance. But it’s not too expensive and it sure is entertaining to play, so check it out if you’re already a fan.

Before Your Eyes is a unique game that deals with difficult themes. Its story is, at times, tough to digest and will keep you on the edge of tears throughout its short run time. How you interact with the game is both unique and clever. As a blink progresses the narrative, you feel part of the world and form strong connections with those who inhabit it. While the addition of choices feels like an afterthought, this is a special narrative-driven title that is a must for fans of the genre.

It’s a well-crafted children’s book come to life with some puzzles that will absolutely leave you stumped and trying new things. I was happy to see a chapter select option upon the games completion as well as the reveal of hidden collectibles I can’t wait to go back and find. I would have liked if some of the environments had a little more going on in regards to the aesthetic detail, but I also acknowledge their design better reflects the nature of a map as is its intention. Carto is the kind of game you love to play on a quiet rainy day and I’m excited to play it over and over again.

With its immaculately executed physics engine and environments both simple yet serene, Human: Fall Flat is a creative and relaxing way to have fun without the pressure of time constraints or limited lives.

Overall, the Rogue One addition to Zen Pinball 2 is one of the best ones yet. Beautiful, detailed and brimming with Star Wars tibdits, this table is a great take on one of my favourite movies from last year. With it’s addictive gameplay, surprising length and advanced play style, Rogue One is a top level table to add to your collection. The only drawback may be that it might be a bit of a learning curve if this is the first time you sit down with Zen Pinball 2.

Where Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart took an old formula and brought it into the modern era, Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ approach was more adherent to the old ways. The technical aspects are phenomenal and thoroughly current, but the game itself relies heavily on the old way of doing things. Limited paths. Contrived situational limitations. Collectables galore. You likely already know if that’s something you’re interested in playing, and I personally believe they’ve done an admirable job here. Especially for a first crack.

The Pedestrian is a beautiful game that permeates with ingenuity. Each area is brimming with ideas and these are suitably positioned to not overwhelm the gamer. Due to its design, players of any skill level will be able to jump on and enjoy this unique title. Unfortunately, there are a few road bumps along the way and the conclusion of the subtle narrative is a bit of a dead-end but this doesn’t take away from the incredible journey across the city.

The game… is basically Terraria. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t have the massive variety and polish of Terraria’s crafting system, doesn’t have the interesting biomes of Terraria, doesn’t have the crazy enemies of Terraria, and it doesn’t make allusions to Lovecraftian horror.

Although Azkend 2 is similar to the beloved Bejeweled, the addition of a good story makes this one of my favourite puzzle games yet.

Casey Donnellan Games has tailored a well balanced game to carry out its goal. Kill It With Fire hits the right mix of fun and length. If you are an arachnophobe, this may not be the game for you. If the idea of squashing spiders for fun appeals to your darker side, this is the game for you. Kill It With Fire is available on all platforms, be it flat or VR. And now it has come to the PSVR 2. Happy Hunting!

Far Cry New Dawn sets out to continue the story where Far Cry 5 left off in a fresh new take on what the apocalypse means. The detail in every aesthetic is absolutely gorgeous, and the sense of isolation when out on the road feels eerie but real. The system for upgrading Prosperity means you always have something important to do and the game does a good job of putting you in the shoes of someone trained to survive, however the lack of creative new weapons, apocalyptic customization, and what feels like less content than its predecessor really hold New Dawn’s potential back.

Overall the game does feel really good. The mechanics are solid with the only issue being gauging strength. The career and societies are going to offer up some good possibilities to players along with some real extended play times. 100,000+ courses to play is slightly bonkers. That’s great for variety but it’s also a double-edged sword. While most are well optimized, there are times that during your back swing the game will stutter. I’m sure you can imagine what that does to a shot.

Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission was an absolute delight, and initially I did have my doubts that I would enjoy an arcade card game. However, after playing it for many days and having my eyes glued to the television screen for hours, I admit that I was wrong to doubt. I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it was, despite the simple and repetitive plot in its Story Mode. Although it can be hard to pick up, once you get the hang of it, it is a fun challenge. With hundreds of available characters, lots of missions to choose from, and endless possibilities, Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission offers a lot for one game, which I believe will please many Dragon Ball fans.

It isn't the prettiest game in the world, but with a consistently high frame rate, quick action packed matches and a unique form of game play tailored for the XBLA platform, Hybrid is definitely the game to play in this year's Summer of Arcade.

Cherry Pop has done an elegant job of making the controls as seamless and intuitive as possible.

The Night of the Rabbit is visually stunning, and will appeal greatly to fans of the adventure genre. It packs interesting characters and design ideas. Although there are some hiccups in pacing and puzzle design, the overall charm of the world makes it well worth a look.

At the end of the day Soul Sacrifice has great content to play with some friends, but if you’re on the look out for a story driven RPG you may, and I stress may, want to look elsewhere.

Throughout my time with it I found a game with uneven design and strange pacing. In trying to be a jack-of-all-trades, it truly left me feeling like it was a master of none.

Although Tacoma is short, it does a fantastic job telling the stories of the different characters throughout the game, using the non-sequential AR memory recordings to build emotional ties to each. Tacoma is a simple, yet fun narrative driven game that brings time and space together.

Throw some supplies into a duffle bag, find a map to Canada, and hop in the van folks, because the zombie masses of Death Road to Canada are coming for you, and getting eaten alive was never so much fun.

Scéal is a game that knows its simplicity, and offers players a light but moving playthrough. While there are some minor issues, it combines an unassuming, yet emotional story with delicate graphics and a breathtaking soundtrack to create a refreshing experience anyone can enjoy.

Dead Rising 3 is funny, and more importantly a riot to play.

With incredible art design, challenging action, and a very innovative, dual-world mechanic, Lords of the Fallen is probably a must-play for fans of Soulslikes. But it’s hard to ignore the game’s issues, too, from sometimes unrefined movement and clunky combat to its many technical hiccups. While these can be frustrating or worse, ultimately the game’s ambition and dark fantasy vision are at least as compelling as its flaws.

For 20 bucks you get some intense and challenging playtime, and that is not a bad deal at all.

Probably my biggest gripe with the game was the number of bugs we encountered. These ranged from being stuck behind a door, to the end-screen not generating the stats and gold bars. They were usually just minor annoyances, but happened just a bit too frequently.

My five or so hours with Chapter 5 was an enjoyable experience. There were only a couple sequences throughout the game that gave me some real challenges, including the previously mentioned chase sequence that was incredibly frustrating. The game crashed on me once. My oldest son played through the entire chapter too, and it crashed on him once as well (in a different area). However, in my time with Chapter 5, the game was updated four or so times, so clearly the developers are actively ironing out any reported issues and bugs. Chapter 5 is an excellent continuation of the Poppy Playtime saga. Even though it’s likely a year away, I’m eager to see how things play out in the next chapter.

All in all Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an engaging and immersive experience that transports the fans back to the very beginning and for me, that came with a heavy serving of nostalgia.

So is Company of Crime worth playing? I’d say definitely. The worst of it is pretty uninspired, but inoffensive. But the best of it is superlatively good. I hope this game gets a lot of circulation just so developers can learn from its greatest strengths. But that’s about design, and not about players. If this were just one part great game and one part mediocre game, I’d say that averages to good. But what nudges it a little farther towards greatness is the presentation. The music, the clothes, the art style all create a sense of atmosphere. There are more polished games out there, but few do as good a job at transporting you to their setting. There’s a universe out there where Company of Crime totally changed the genre forever. We live in the universe where it’s just a really cool game that fans of the genre shouldn’t miss!

All in all, Wander Stars is a good time for RPG fans and anyone nostalgic for older battle anime. I had fun with it and you probably will, too.

With a wide range of exercises, leaderboard challenges, and something for every fitness goal, I highly recommend this game to anyone looking for a challenging and rewarding workout in the comfort of their own home.

Cotton Reboot is one of my favorite horizontal shoot ‘em ups of all time, alongside Keio Flying Squadron, Harmful Park, Cho Aniki, and Zombie Nation. What those all have in common is that they’re weird and unique in their presentation. They all have solid gameplay but don’t re-invent the wheel with anything other than style. Casual shooter fans can’t go wrong with Cotton Reboot!. It has an interesting presentation, tight controls, and scale-able difficulty. It won’t challenge hardcore bullet hell enthusiasts, but they probably want their shmups to be vertical anyways.

While UnExplored leaves a lot to be desired in the way of graphics, it has its own charm in its aesthetic which is backed up by the bitchin music that follows you on your dives. Even in its shortcomings, I found UnExplored to be redeemable and the amount of angry, annoying, pleasurable fun was worth far more than any downsides. Can I really be bothered by a lack of an overall storyline when each dungeon run has its own substory? Can I really complain about some graphic inequality with AAA games when each time I play is unique and a lot of fun? Well, I can’t see how I could do that, maybe just don’t bring it up to the people that picked up No Man’s Sky on its first day…

So in the end, Road Not Taken is a very charming and entertaining puzzler, with a deeper mystery behind it yet to be solved. I will definitely be traveling this road more than once, and you should too!

WRC 9 checks nearly all the boxes for a racing game and most importantly excels in the areas of rally racing and fun. For WRC 8 owners, having to pay the full game price for small improvements will probably seem steep. The differences between the two games adds up to the amount of content often found in a DLC. Especially as is often done by other racing sim games. For new players, however, WRC 9 is an easy purchase.

Moonlighter: Between Dimensions is a hearty post-game DLC that lets its devoted fan base keep playing more and more of the solid adventurer/merchant amalgamation mechanics. It offers new challenges in the dimensional dungeon, new gear to craft, and countless hours to sink into getting that perfect gear. While on paper it doesn’t seem like much is being added, it’s going to take a lot of work for even the hardiest of player to get through this new threat. While the gameplay and narrative is as solid as you would expect from 11 Bit Studios, the cost to upgrade is really it’s only downside.

As it stands in its current form, I will say that if Blasphemous’ aesthetic interests you even a little, or if you’re a fan of metroidvania-style games, then it’s absolutely worth checking out in its current form. I will also say though that despite how good the performance is on the Switch version, there are bugs and animations/interactions that could use more tuning. Blasphemous in its current state is a strong entry in the genre, and definitely stands close to the top, but with further refinement, it could turn from an interesting title to a true must-play experience.

The Turrican franchise features some of the toughest and most punishing run and gun platforming gameplay you will ever come across. Especially the first game. As the series moved out to the consoles, gameplay became more balanced as Factor 5 matured and refined their creative skills. If you are up for a run and gun gameplay challenge, Turrican Flashback fits the bill.

Graphical caveats aside, Sniper Elite: Resistance is fun to play not only because of the various game modes but how you can approach missions. The developers also devoted significant effort to ballistics and weapons handling. Veteran players will feel right at home. New players will be delighted with the variety of missions. Both will be delighted with the options of how they can play them.

Folks who like tower defense and twin-stick shooters should enjoy X-Morph: Defense on the Nintendo Switch. The experience offers up a ton of variety and the replayability factor is high. Not to mention the level of planning and strategy required only adds to the enjoyment. And well playing as the bad guy’s rock.

All in all, Homura: The Crimson Warriors is an interesting historical fantasy with a dash of romance. I recommend it to fans of Japanese history and bittersweet plotty romance.

Aragami is a well designed, fun and challenging stealth game that, minus a few bugs here and there, is a solid entry into the stealth genre.

If you’re a 30 year fan of Super Robot Wars, the latest entry into the saga is something pretty special. No expense was spared bringing crunchy strategy rules and every mecha IP under the sun into one full throttle extravaganza. And even if you are a complete noob like me, this feels like a great entry to the wider world of giant robot anime. I suppose if you are only looking for the most finely honed strategy game and style is meaningless to you, you’re not going to find what you are looking for in Super Robot Wars 30. But give it a chance, it might grab you with a 10 foot long mechanized fist and not let go.

Pylon: Rogue excels because it knows what it is; a rogue-like RPG about skill, precision, and stacking a crazy number of skills. Its presentation is nice if a bit simple and some enemies sadly tend to blend into the environment due to lighting which can lead to unfortunate hits, but it’s still a solid experience.

Some weird technical mishaps aside, Afterparty is a helluva ride. Night School Studio’s depiction of Hell is wonderfully inventive, quirky, and surprisingly enticing. While it’s certainly up for debate whether it dethrones Oxenfree, Afterparty is a quality followup that will bring a smile to your face. The story is solid with great relatable characters but the constantly hilarious script and dialogue make Afterparty worth sticking with until the very end, even after everybody’s gone home.

Offworld Trading Company is a good game, with some solid gameplay mechanics, polished visuals and intuitive controls.

Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale is a bit short, and some of its side characters feel underdeveloped. Even so, Quillo Entertainment Limited has crafted a game filled with heart. That passion shines through in every frame, showcasing an impressive level of artistry that’s only slightly held back by budgetary constraints. In the end, Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale is a gentle, gorgeous experience that will warm your heart while lingering in your thoughts thanks to its surprising emotional depth.

A pretty good game. From large game levels and lots of extra tasks to that non-linear approach to how you can complete said tasks and the ability to play the whole campaign cooperatively, there really is a lot to like.

In Other Waters is a slow-paced and oddly satisfying game that asks for your patience and imagination. It is like reading a book where you are transported into a completely different world, and with each discovery Ellery makes the environment becomes more detailed and beautiful. With full control of the expedition that engages the player from the moment the game starts, In Other Waters is highly interactive and unapologetically detailed, a little slower and a lot more reading than I would have preferred, but an overall impressive experience.

Treasures of the Aegean is an intriguing and audacious game. Giving you complete freedom, you can decide how you want to tackle the enormous environment. Due to the protagonist’s free-flowing approach to traversal, you can gracefully cruise through areas to discover the plethora of secrets that are buried within. Whilst some may be deterred by that lack of a clear objective, those who crave an adventure that gives you control should definitely check out this liberating trip to a lost, ancient world.

With an overwhelming amount of content available, and a variety of game modes to play through, Vector Unit Inc. should be proud of this arcade racing game.

Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Hacker’s Memory is a worthy successor. It is not a jaw-dropping, life-changing piece, but it is an enjoyable experience especially for a Digimon fan. The story is engaging from the first minute of gameplay and I personally found it difficult to turn the game off to go to bed. Overall, Hacker’s Memory is addicting and extremely satisfying, and here’s to hoping for a similar title in the near future.

Though I really enjoyed the spooky, 80’s horror music, what I loved was that you can hear very ominous things happening in the background; echoed gunshots, whimpering, and the occasional zombie moan. The thunder and lightning, the pitter-patter of rain, and the screams of your enemies as you progress further through the level really struck that classic horror movie tone.

Overall, Total War: Attila ends up being a pretty enjoyable game.

If you’ve never played a musou game before, then One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is a fantastic one to start with. If you’re not a One Piece fan, however, your enjoyment of the game’s story may be limited. But if you like One Piece, and/ or like Dynasty Warriors, then you need this game in your life.

PowerWash Simulator is a game for people who love a clean space. It’s a meditation for those who need a stress-free break. The gameplay is easy and straightforward, the controls handle beautifully, and the colors jump out with vibrance and life. I do feel like the game is hurt with such a soft delivery on its story and lack of soundtrack. The dirt highlighter could also benefit from multiple color options. I feel that the requirements on smaller objects and crevices could use some tweaking. I love booting this up for some relaxing gameplay. It’s easily one of my favorite games to play on Xbox.